The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-04-17
p1oKsoN's REMOVAL.

THE HERALD does not interpret the
removal of District Attorney Dickson
as indicating any let-up on the part of
the government in the matter of enforc-
ing the laws against polygamy and I'M
lawful cohabitatlon. We know it is the
intention of the administration TO ap-
ply the laws with as much rigor and
earnestneSs as ever. Mr.. Dickson's
course has long been displeasing to the
Washington authorities. No fault has
been found with his earnestness and de-
termination in applying the law, but
his use of power and authority in per-
seCutive and yindictive manner was
what was objected to by the administra-
ton. His removal, therefore, means no
change of policy on the part of the gov
eminent with respect to local affairs;
representatives here must operate in
harmony with the administration s
policy. President Cleveland has said on
more than one occasion that while the
laws must and shall be enforced, he
would not colEent to their enforcement
being directed by vindictiveness; that
he did not want the people here to feel
and have occasion to say, that the gov
eminent was malicious and bent on
persecution. Mr.. Dickson has been
spitetul, passionate and actuated by
hate; it has come to be, seemingly, i'm
possible for him to prosecute a Nor
mon without display of malice and
viciousness which reflected on the
government that sustained him. The
administration thinks that the occasion
does not exist for straining the law for
the sake of prosecuting or Furnishing the
Mormons; it believes that the laws
against polygamy and unlawful Co
habitation should be applied as all
other criminal statutes are applied
fairly and in a spirit of justice.
Mr.. Diekson's conduct has shown that
he did not agree with the government
N the above expressed views; that he
has regarded Mormons as not being
entitled to the rights of the fair and i'm
partial trial which the law guarantees
10 all; hence he was bounced.
We believe il is possible to administer
the laws in Utah as they are admins
tered in other States and Territories
with frmness and fairness; and we
know that because the laws have not
been so administered here, because the
manifested themselves in the enforce
ment of one class of laws, the task of the
government. has been more arduous and
more expensive than it would have been,
and the effect en- the community has
been anything but moral and conducive
to respect for the statutes and those who
interpret them. Impartial courts and
prosecuting officers who know only
their duty will be quite as effective in
Furnishing violators of the statutes asMr.
Dickson and those directed by him have
been, and will not keep the community
in a state of ruinous turmoil, nor give
the Mormons the right which they now
have. of crying persecution. It is to
be hoped that the career of Mr.. Dick
son and his late unpleasant experience
will be needed by his successor and that
the latter will not split upon the rock
on which his predecessor has ,gone to
pieces; in which event we may expect
the continued enforcement of the law
but an absence. of the ugly stTaining of
the statutes which ..has occssioned so
much illfeeling, and caused so much
unnecessary hardship and suffering in
Utah.